Sound-box.



' H. c. MILLER.

SOUND BOX. APPLICATION FILED APR. I0, 1914.

Patented an. 22, 1918.

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wuucmo I H. c. MILLER.

SOUND BOX. APPLICATION FILED APR. LO. I914. 1 2MA25, Patented Jan.22,1918.

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HENRY C. MILEER, OF WATERFORD, NEW YORK.

SOUND-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 22,1918.

Application filedl April 10, 1914. Serial No. 831,002.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY C. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vaterford, in the county of Saratoga and State of Newl'ork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sound- Boxes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descrip tion of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertainsto make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in means for dispensing with individual needles in connection with sound reproducing machines, particularly' where records having grooves provided with lateral undulations are employed.

The principal objects of my, invention are to provide means for employing a continuous piece of thin wire to be used as a stylus, and gage the feeding of the latter to insure of the correct projection of the wire; to provide improved means for feed ing the wire; and to provide safety -means to prevent the sound box falling and destroying a record.

I am aware the use of a continuous wire for a stylus for sound reproducing machines isold in the art, numerous attempts having-been made to operate the wire auto- In the use of a continuous wire employed as a stylus, it is of the utmost importance when feeding the wire that the latter be fed a predetermined distance, and to this end it is my purpose to'provide a gage so arranged that whenpositioned in the path of the end of the wire, the latter will be limited. which always insures of a uniform stylus. Then again when the wire is to be fed the gage is so constructed that when it is in operative position the wire clamp will be simultaneously feeding of the wire.

My invention also aims to provide simple and effective means for storing the wire, the same consisting of a magazine having frictional means for holding it in any position when manually set. i

A number of records are destroyed by the sound box dropping, and to overcome this difliculty I provide special means for holding the sound box in any position within a glven range. This feature of my invention is so constructed as not to interfere with the free movement of the needle in the rec ord grooves, the binding actionflbetween the parts taking place only after the sound box is slightly elevated from the record.

In addition to the foregoing, my invention comprehends improvements in the details of construction and arrangement of parts which will be hereinafter described, and particularly pointedout in the claimsf In the drawings Figure 1 .is a perspective view of my inn provement.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view on the line w:r: of Fig. 1.

Fig.- 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the sound box and the magazine, the latter being in'section.

' Fig. 4 is a central section taken through the sound box, the parts beingseparated.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a part of.

the stylus lever, and the wire clamp, the parts being separated.

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the wire and the manner in which its end is held in the magazine.

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the means forpreventing the sound box falling on the record.

Fig. 8 is a detail view of the magazine friction clamp. I

Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of a different.- form of my invention.

Fig. 10 is a-detail end viewof the same.

Fig. 11 is a detail perspective view of the parts shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

The numeral 1 indicates a sound box casing, provided with a central sound exit opening 2, and a peripherical fiange'g. In-

side fiange 3, the casing is .formed with anreleased to permit the 6, and bearing on the washer is a dished diaphragm 7.- A washer 8 bears against the outer portion of the diaphragm, and contacting with said washer is -a spider 9, the

center of which is solid to form an abutment 10. Bolted. to the front portion of the flange 3, is an open frame 11, formed with a central threaded opening 12, through which passes a screw 13, which engages the abutment 10, to adjust the diaphragm.

Mounted on the screw is a pointer 14, having a notch 15, in which fits a lug 16, formed on the screw. The pointer moves over a scale 17, on'the frame, and is limited'in its movement by a stop 18.. When the screw 13 is adjusted it impinges on the abutment 10, and causes the spider to clamp the-diaphragm between the washers,

to 'agreater or less degree, as may be desired. Because of the annular groove 4, the outer edge of the washer'6, will be forced or crowded into said groove, and-correspondingly the outer edge of the diaphragm will gitudinal groove 23, and intersecting thisgroove is a threaded opening 24:. F tting 1n the groove 23, is a gib 25, formedon its front extended wall 34, which with the slot 33, and

explained later on.

yield and thereby the-character of the reproduction will be altered; When the screw is adjusted, the pointer and scale will indicate the degree of pressure on the diaphragm. J

' lVIounted and secured in the recess 5.'is a substantially flexible fin 20, which projects from the lower portion 21, of a stylus lever 22. The lower portion 21, of thestylus lever is thickened and in its front face is a lon- It is of course to be understood that the .upper end 31,51. the stylus lever is attached to the diaphragm.

- .Preferably. integral with the frame 11, is a cylindrical casing 32, having a. slot 33 1n the peripherical wall, the casing having an the groove-28, forms a guide for the wire 30. Fitting in the casing 32, 1s a drum 30,;11'1 the periphery of which is a groove 36, and in thls groove is wound the wire 30. The inner end of the wire is bent and engages in a notch 36'" tending from the drum is a knurled knob 38,

formedin the flange of the drum 35. Ex-

-- by means of which the'drum may be rotated.

- drum to hold the latter against accidental rotation. 1 I p The wire-30 is. wound around thev periph- :ery ot' the (llllll'l. and is housed in the casing 3.2, the free end Iof the wire passing through. v

. Fastened to the casing 32, by-a screw 3?, is a resilient bifurcated plated0,-wh1ch IfIIC- tionally bears againstvthe front face of the the slot 33, thence through the groove or recess 23, asclearly shown in the drawing. A screw 42, engages the threaded opening 21, in the lower section 21, of the stylus lever,

said'screw fitting in between the lugs 26 of the gib 25, to hold said gib in positionin' the recess 23.. Extending from and integral with the screw 42, is a V shape gage 43, which is rotated with the screw. The free end of the gage43'is bent tocontact withithe lower end of the stylus .leveriai' d thereby limit its movement, as shown in dottedli'nes in Fig, 3. Thegage, when in operativeposition is spaced from the bottom of the are lus lever-so that the wire BO can ouly'bc ted distance.

The screw and the gagearc so arranged thatwhen the screw is rotated to clamp the .gib 25, the gage will be out'of the path oftlie beyond the'end of the styluslever a definite needle,as shown in full lines in Fig-f3. -()bi viously, when the. screw is withdt-awn from; Its openlng, to' release the clamp from the and .inthe path of the'end of "the wire; thus. the movementof the function. i

which are perforated and receive a screw 51. Extending from the.- band is an arm 5'3.

which is turned down and spreads out-in.

semi-circular forni to provideh resilient plate 52. which engages overthe faccz ofa disk 53,. adjustably' fastened to the end of the horizontal portion of the swinging neck. 5. by a set screw56. One end of the plate 5.), is bent outwardly as at .58, to form a gradual wire, the gage will assume position under."-

screw produces adwal f V Clamped around the sound COl 1\(}'1,-h(ljacent the soundfboxis a band 50,-the ends of incline. Projecting outwardly from thedisk 53, is a short pin 59, which.- when-the swinginclined end 58, of plate 52 and the-friction" of thelatter holds the sound box in any posi;

. tion, and thereby prevents the sound box p a The pin 59 is spaced slightly from the end falling and the needled'estroying a.rec ord.

58, of the plate 52. soas to permit free movement of"thesound ox while tbQ- fil G is traveling in j the record groove. w ()bv iously, by adjusting the screw 56,; thefldislg 53',

may be rotated and -then set to regulate th relative position ofthelpin tothe endfi'x i of the plate 52.

. In operation, the parts areyasscniblcd' as illustrated in Fig. 1. Now when the record is beingreproduced, the needle '(:a 'n'-follo\\" in the groove inprcvisel v tlugsame way; as practised, with machines ofthls' tyjw."- if the sound box be elevated. the in Sit'if so. posit1oncd that it will not be mmediately frict-iona'lly bound by theplatc 52. but when v the v stylus is a short distant-tabove the red 0rd, the. friction bot-ween the pin and plate 52, is such thatit willjln l lthe sound lafi again st fallmg, t the op a tu-oe silm ilj l 105' i Y ingneck 5st is elevated, rides up behind the lease it. In lowering the sound box the fricfeed the wire, the sound box isthrown up away fromthe record, and then the set screw 42 is rotated, whichreleases pressure on the gib 27, and the points 2,7 and 28,'release the wire in the recess. As has been previously stated, the releasing of the screw 4:2,

turnsthe gage under the lower end of thestylus lever and in the path of the wire, the proper position of the gage being determined-by the lug 43 Now'the thumb piece 38, isturned and the drum feeds the wire through slot 33, and the. recess 23, until the end of the wire contacts with the gage.

Then the set -screw &2, is again tightened,

and the reproduction can be proceeded with. The resilient plate serves tohold the drum in set position, and prevents the wire I being fed toward the gagetoo freely.

In the form of the. invention illustrated in Figs. 9 to 11, the wire gage 60, swings freely on a. pin 61, supported on the stylus lever 62. The gage in this instance is of U form and is provided with a lug 63, which is adapted to contact with the lower end of the stylus lever to limit the movement of the gage in one direction, but the gage normally lies in the path of the projecting wire, and it serves to limit the feeding of the wire in substantially the same manner as the gage shown in the previous figures.

Inthis form of the-invention, the stylus lever is somewhat difierent from that previously described, and the casing 32, is omit. ted, as the'drum is dispensedwith. Ihe wire lies in a recess 64:, inthe stylus-lever,

. and is'clamped by a gift) 65, and a screw 66,

but the gage, as previously set out,.is not attached tot-he screw. The wire 67 extends up beyondv the lower section of the stylus lever, and may be turned over at its end.

In this embodimentof the invention, the screw is released, and the wire niay then be pushed down int-he groove until the gage is reached. r I

It is to be noted that the gage normally extends across the plane of the end of the stylus lever. the lug 63 supporting the gage in this position. Hence when thesound box is lowered toward 'a moving record the gage .will lie across the path of the stylus, as shown in Fig. 10. Then the rotating record moving in the direction of the arrow a in Fig. 9. swings'the gage, on its pivot and moves it. from underthe stylus .lever, and the end of the wire .(orstylus) will gently drop? into the groove.

Bythe construction described, I anrenabled to use a very fine wire, which will insure of fitting the smaller undulations, thus obtaining the minor tones, which are usually lost when a coarse or large needle is em ployed. I

Then again, because of the means described for preventing the sound box dropping, the end of the fine wire is protected.

What I claim 1. In a sound box, the combination of a casing, including a stylus lever, a housing on the casing, a drum rotatively mounted in the housing, a wire wound'arouml the drum and extended through and beyond a portion of the stylus lever, and means for gaging the movement of the wire.

2. In a sound box, the combination of a casing, a stylus lever having a. recess and supported by. the casing, a magazine mounted on the casing, a wire housed in the magazine and extending through the recess in the stylus lever. and a gib engaging the wire in the recess, and means for binding the gib to clamp the wire.

3. In a sound box, the combination-of a casing, a stylus lever supported by the casing, a magazine mounted on the ca'sing,-a

wire. coiled in and" housed in the magazine,

the free end of the wire passing through a portion of the stylus lever,1neans tor clamp ing that portion of the wire extending through the stylus lever, and means for feeding the wire beyond the stylus lever to form a needle.

4, In a sound box, the combination of a casing, a stylus lever-supported by the casing,,a magazine mounted on the casing, 21 wire coiled in andhoused in the magazine,

the free end of the wire passing through a portion of the stylus lever, means for clamping that portion of the wire extending through the stylus lever, means for feeding the wire beyond the stylus lever to form a needle, and a gage pivotally mounted on the stylus lever and adapted toswing below the latter to gage the feeding of the 'wire, the gage having a-stop to limit its swinging movement. I

51- In asound box, the combination of a casing, a styluslever carried by the casing, a drum, wire wound around the drum and extending through a portion of the stylus lever and extending beyond the same, a frictional device for holding the drum in set position, and means forrlamping that portion of the wire extending through the stylus lever.

6. In a soundbox, the combination'of a casing, a stylus lever *arried by the casing. a drum, a wire wound around the drum and extending through a portion of the stylus lever and extending beyond the same, a frictional device for holding the drum in set position, means for clamping that portion of'the wire extending through the stylus a tla'nge of-the wire'v l. A soundbox comprising a casing, a

stylus lever supported by-the casing, a maglever, and 'a gage tong-aging the movementazine on the casing including a drum'having provided with -ja., .-wire receiving a wire having its end fitting in the" opening and wound a'roiuid' the. drum and. passed through and means for clamping that p ortion of the opening,

a part of the stylus; lever,

wireextending through the stylus lever.

. beyond the latter,

. 8]. In a sound box, the combination of a I casing, a stylus lever supported on the-casing-and provided with a"wire-.passage, a'-

rotary magazine including a drum supportedonz the cas 1ng,fa w re wound on the drum and passed through the passage in the stylus lever andjprojectirig beyond the lat-. ter, means for holding the magazine ad-' 'juste'dposition, and means for clam'pingthe wire in the passage in the stylus lever.

9,111 a sound'box, the combination-of a casing, a stylus lever supported on the cas ing and provided with a wire; passage, a

manually operated rotary magazine includin'g a drum supported onthe casing, a'wire wound on the'drum and passed through the passage in the stylus lever and projecting manually operated position, and means for clamping, the wire Lin'the-passa'gein the stylus lever, v

10. Ina sound box, thecombinfation of a casing, a stylus'lever supported on thecasing I and provided with a recess, a' gib having two contact projections. on one edge and fitting in the recess, a'stylus extending through the recess-and engaged by the projections, means a on thestylus engagingthe. outer edge of the gib to force the projections againstthe stylus and clamp the latter againstthe rear wall of said recess, and means movable in the path of the" free end of .thestylus; to ehgage rthe portion extending beyond the' stylus'leyer. 9 11. In a sound box, the combination of a casing, a stylus lever supported on the casing to support. an" elongated'stylus a swinging gage movable in one direction under the stylus lever to beengagedbythe free'end of the elongatedstylus'to limit its length, the

gage having a projection to limit its move-- 'Inent in one direction, and a screw to which the gage i's'attached whereby tomove said gage in and out of gaging position and to fastenthe stylus in the stylus lever.

.12.-I "n,a. soundbox',the combination of a.

casing, a stylus lever extending from the casing, an elongated-resilient stylus extending through the stylus lever, a rotary support on the casing'for the resilient stylus, means for operating the rotary support to feed the stylus, a gage adapted to be moved under the stylus lever and against which the'ffree end of the stylus contacts, and means for tightening the stylus after being gaged,

-- styluswvire the means forholding the magazine in adjusted;

the wire is wound and by which eitfis adjust- 1 3. In combination,with a, sound-box, a v

and a rotatable-part on which I able, the stylus bar' and "means" for opera-1 ti velv securing the free end of the Wire'to said bar.

let. In combination with a' sound box,' a

stylus-wire and 'a rotatablegpartonwhich the wireis wound arid'by which'it is adjustj able, the stylus bar, an

s means for clamping free end of the wire to said bar,

15. In combination witha sound-box, the stylus bar, stylusclamping means on -said bar, a stylus wire passing. through I said clamping means, and'a' rotatable part on which said wire is wound and b which the extent of its proection from meansis adjusta le,

, 16,111 combinationwith a sound-box, astylus-wire and a rotatable part onwhlch for securing one end of said clamping I the Wire is wound and by which itis ad- 'justable', and means said-Wire to the rotatable part, the stylus said bar. .17. In combinatio with a sound-box and its stylus bar, tylus-wire, thev stylus bar havinga olaxnf controlledeyefor oper-j atively receiving -'0 e" end of said wire, and

arotata'ble part-on Which-the Wire-,is wound and by which itis deliverable opposite the eye of the-stylus bar.

18 In a sound box, casing, a stylus lever having a seat for a fstylusywire and supported by the casing, a

the combination of a magazine mounted on the'casing, a wire coiled 'in ,the magazine and extending through [and beyond thes'eat-in the stylus eratively securing the lever to form a needlefand means on the stylus lever for clamping the wire in its seat. '19. In'comb-ination with a soundbox, stylus wire, and arotatable-part on which the wire is wound entirely around same, by which it is adjustable.

., 20;. In combination with a sound boX,-1a,

"stylus wire and a rotatable part'on WlllCli. thewire is wound and by which it is adjust-f =ahl'e,'.t he rotatable part having a groove wherein the Wire is located.

21-."In combination with a sound box, a

4 which theextent of its projection from said clamping In combination with a sound box, a

stylus wire, and a rotatablopart on which the wire s wound and by which it is ad- ,justable, and means for securing one end of said wire to the rotatable part.

24. In combination with a sound box, a stylus wire and a rotatable part on which the wire is wound and by which it is adjustable, the rotatable part having a groove wherein the wire is located, said groove having a socket leading therefrom adapted to anchor the wire at one end.

25. In combination with a sound box, the stylus bar, a stylus wire, means for operatively securing the free end of the .wire to said bar, and a grooved rotatable part wherein the wire is located.

26. In combination with a sound boX,'the stylus bar, a stylus wire, means for operatively securing the free end of the wire to said bar, and agrooved rotatable part .to

' which the other, end of the'wire is attachable with the wire locatedin said groove,

u '27. in combination with a sound box and its stylus bar, of a stylus wire, the stylus bar having a clamp controlled eye for opera- .tively receiving one end of said wire, and a grooved rotatable part to which the other end of the wire is attachable with the wire located in said groove and by which it-is-deliverable opposite the eye of the stylus bar.

28. In combination, with a sound box, a stylus wire, a stationary cylindrically hollow casing having a hole through it to deliver one end of said wire into an operative playing position, and a rotatable and end- Wise movable spool within said casing about which the Wire is Wound and by which it is adjnstable through the-hole in said hollow casing.

29. In combination with a sound box and its stylus bar, of a stylus wire, the stylus bar having a clamp controlled eye for operatively receiving one end of said wire, a stationary cylindrica'lly hollow casing hav ing a hole through it to deliver, said curl of the wire opposite said eye, and a grooved rotatable and endwise movable spool within said casing to which the other'end of the wire is attachable with the wire located in said groove and leading through said hole.

30. Incombination with a sound box, a

stylus wire and a rotatable part on which the wire is wound'and by which it is adjustab1e,.the rotatable part having a groove wherein the wire is located, and acooperating stationary part adjacent to said rotatable part, the'side walls of the groove in the rotatable part being substantially normal thereto. V

31. In combination with a sound box, a stationary cylindrically hollow casing having a hole through it to deliver one end of the wire into an operative playing position,

and a grooved rotatable and endwise mova- 

